Genesis 8:3

8:3 The waters kept receding steadily ¹  from the earth, so that they ²  had gone down ³  by the end of the 150 days.

Genesis 8:7

8:7 and sent out a raven; it kept flying ⁴  back and forth until the waters had dried up on the earth.

Genesis 31:13

31:13 I am the God of Bethel, ⁵  where you anointed ⁶  the sacred stone and made a vow to me. ⁷  Now leave this land immediately ⁸  and return to your native land.’”

¹ tn The construction combines a Qal preterite from שׁוּב (shuv) with its infinitive absolute to indicate continuous action. The infinitive absolute from הָלָךְ (halakh) is included for emphasis: “the waters returned…going and returning.”

² tn Heb “the waters.” The pronoun (“they”) has been employed in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tn The vav (ו) consecutive with the preterite here describes the consequence of the preceding action.

⁴ tn Heb “and it went out, going out and returning.” The Hebrew verb יָצָא (yatsa’), translated here “flying,” is modified by two infinitives absolute indicating that the raven went back and forth.

⁷ map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

⁸ sn You anointed the sacred stone. In Gen 28:18 the text simply reported that Jacob poured oil on top of the stone. Now that pouring is interpreted by the Lord as an anointing. Jacob had consecrated the place.

⁹ sn And made a vow to me. The second clause reminds Jacob of the vow he made to the Lord when he anointed the stone (Gen 28:20-22). God is now going to take him back to the land, and so he will have to fulfill his vow.

¹⁰ tn Heb “arise, leave!” The first imperative draws attention to the need for immediate action.